The interchange point between South Western Railway and Southern Railway will be shifted from Padil cabin (in picture) to Ullal after the Mangaluru railway region comes under Mysuru division of SWR from Palakkad division of SR on October 1, 2026.
| Photo Credit: ANIL KUMAR SASTRY
The countdown has started for bringing Mangaluru Railway Region under Mysuru division of South Western Railway (SWR) from Palakkad division of Southern Railway with effect from the intervening midnight of September 30 and October 1. Both the divisions are holding regular meetings to facilitate a smooth change of guard.
On September 30, a team of senior officers from Mysuru division, headed by Additional Divisional Railway Manager Shammas Hameed, would be in Mangaluru to officially take over the administration, Divisional Railway Manager Mudit Mittal told The Hindu. The primary aim was to ensure unhindered operation of services during the transition period. The team would put stay in Mangaluru for a few days to ensure smooth transition.
Shifting of control
The all-important job during the jurisdictional change would be shifting of the operational control of Mangaluru region from Palakkad division to Mysuru division, Mr. Mittal said.
The operations control room of Mysuru division of South Western Railway in Mysuru.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
A new control board was getting ready at Mysuru divisional headquarters to regulate operations of Mangaluru region. Starting September 28, controllers of Mysuru division would have viewing rights of the control board to understand the operations. From September 30 midnight, they would get operational control while controllers of Palakkad division, with viewing rights, would assist them if need be, the DRM said.
Operational details
At present, Palakkad division has three control boards — Palakkad-Shoranur; Shoranur-Kannur, and Kannur-Mangaluru.
At present, Mysuru division has three boards – Mysuru-Chamarajanagar-Hassan-Bantwal, Birur-Chkkajajur-Harihar, and Kadur-Chikkamagaluru-Shivamogga. A new control board is being set up with the revised control boundaries to include Mangaluru region up to Alur in Hassan district. From 92 block stations, the division would have 99 block stations from October 1.
The DRM said there would be no change in operations or primary maintenance of trains being undertaken at the Mangaluru coaching depot at least for the first three months.
Smooth operations
With the shifting of interchange point between SWR and SR from Padil to Ullal, delays in handing over trains from one Zone to another could be avoided thereby ensuring smooth and unhindered operations, the DRM said.
A train crossing the Netravati river in Mangaluru. Smooth shifting of operational control from Palakkad division of Southern Railway to Mysuru division of South Western Railway on the intervening night of September 30 and October 1 is crucial for unhindered train operations.
| Photo Credit:
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY
As of now, a train — freight or passenger — from Bengaluru towards Karwar has to cross the SWR-SR boundary at Padil and the SR-Konkan Railway Corporation Limited boundary at Thokur. Advance co-ordination and control between the two zones is needed before a train crosses zonal boundaries. Once the entire Mangaluru region comes under SWR, there is one less zone to deal with, thereby avoiding delays.
Published – September 25, 2026 02:51 pm IST
